Omaha, Nebraska, USA
January 31, 2014
The Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA) saw registrations approach 400 and set records for exhibitor and sponsor numbers at their 25th Anniversary Conference and Trade Show, January 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch in St. Louis, MO. The event featured several outstanding speakers on a variety of relevant industry topics. “The 25th Anniversary Conference provided an opportunity to celebrate IPSA’s rich history, along with an educational program geared toward the future for regional, independently-owned seed companies” offered outgoing IPSA President Chuck Cornelius, Cornelius Seed, Bellevue, Iowa.
IPSA’s Business Development Committee provides insight and support throughout the conference planning process over the past year. 2014 IPSA President Lou Buice with Golden Acres Genetics in Waco, Texas served as Chairman of the planning committee and offered this assessment: “I could not be more proud of the role played by this year’s planning committee – they sought a balance between celebrating our past and maintaining a forward-looking educational focus, which was clearly recognized with record attendance and support for this milestone event.”
The 25th Anniversary conference began with a welcome reception as several past Association Presidents were on hand to offer highlights of IPSA’s first 25 years.
IPSA also recognized winners of three Association-sponsored scholarships in 2013. Fundraising efforts during the conference provided additional cash enhancements for these winners and support for future scholarship winners.
At their 25th Anniversary Conference and Trade Show, nearly 400 members of the Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA) enjoyed a strong program offering on key industry topics. January 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch in St. Louis, MO. The event featured several outstanding speakers on a variety of relevant industry topics.
IPSA’s Business Development Committee and the IPSA Board of Directors provided insight and support throughout this year’s planning process. IPSA President Lou Buice with Golden Acres Genetics in Waco, Texas served as Chairman of the planning committee and offered this assessment: “The conference provided a great balance of historical celebration and forward-looking educational programs. Shattering all attendance records confirms the planning committee was on target for this Annual Conference.”
The Opening Session on Wednesday morning featured keynote speaker Captain Charles Plumb, a U.S. Navy veteran held hostage nearly six years in Vietnam. Captain Plumb’s story was one of encouragement and perseverance, and challenged attendees to use the same techniques in their daily lives. Captain Plumb was recognized with a standing ovation at the conclusion of his remarks.
Wednesday’s programming continued with a Washington DC update by Michael Parrish with Monsanto, who described progress being made on important topics such as the Farm Bill and the renewable fuels standard. Lou Buice then moderated a “rapid-fire” session where six breakout session speakers had five minutes each to highlight their presentations.
- Jim Schweigert, FuSE Committee – How to Reach Younger, Tech-savvy Growers
- Dave Smith, VirTrus Consulting – David vs. Goliath: How to Fight the Battle Against a Giant
- Mark Uhlenberg, The Heartwood Group – Coaching and Company Culture: Building your Company into a Community of Leaders
- Steve Rezac, NuVue Business Solutions – Selling to the Generations
- Katie Sauer, Monsanto – Do More than Check the Box: Creating Customer Events that Build Your Brand
- Grant Thekan, Badder Rutter & Assoc. – Trends in Digital Communication
The educational breakout sessions were 75 minutes in length, including time for questions by attendees. The breakout presentations were very well received by attendees, with large crowds in each session. Comments heard in the hallways included “there are too many good breakout programs” and “I wish these programs were repeated so I had a chance to sit through more than just one session.”
Thursday’s programming wrapped up with two General Sessions programs. The first program addressed proposed changes to the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in Washington, DC and how regional seed companies can influence a final decision. Speakers included Terry Stone with Syngenta and Jim Miller with Growth Energy. The second presentation featured Oistein Thorsen with Trie, who outlined consumer perceptions about food production. A follow-up webinar is being planned for later this year to help seed companies develop proactive efforts to positively influence consumer perceptions.
Efforts are already underway to plan the 26th Annual Conference, January 6-8, 2015 at the Loew’s Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, AZ, and all members are encouraged to attend.
More information can be found on the IPSA website at http://www.independentseeds.com
The Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA) was formed in 1989 by a group of independent seed producers who recognized the need for an organization to represent independent seed companies world-wide. The Association addresses research and biotechnology issues and increases the media presence of the industry in an increasingly competitive and dynamic business climate. IPSA represents approximately 100 seed companies from throughout the US and Canada, who produce and market a significant portion of the corn, soybeans, small grain and forage seeds planted annually.
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